Body condition at parturition and postpartum weight gain influence luteal activity and concentrations of glucose, insulin, and nonesterified fatty acids in plasma of primiparous beef cows

• Published in: Journal of animal science 1998-04, Vol.76 (4), p.927-936
• Main Authors: Vizcarra, J.A. (Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater.), Wettemann, R.P, Spitzer, J.C, Morrison, D.G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACIDE GRAS; ACIDOS GRASOS; ALIMENTACION DE LOS ANIMALES; ALIMENTATION DES ANIMAUX; ANIMAL FEEDING; Animal productions; Animal reproduction; Animals; AZUCAR EN SANGRE; BEEF CATTLE; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood Glucose - metabolism; BLOOD LIPIDS; BLOOD PLASMA; BLOOD SUGAR; BODY CONDITION; BOVIN; BOVIN DE BOUCHERIE; CATTLE; Cattle - blood; Cattle - physiology; Cohort Studies; CONDICION CORPORAL; CORPS JAUNE; CORPUS LUTEUM; Corpus Luteum - physiology; COWS; CUERPO LUTEO; ETAT CORPOREL; FATTY ACIDS; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - blood; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - metabolism; FEEDING LEVEL; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GAIN DE POIDS; GANADO BOVINO; GANADO DE CARNE; GANANCIA DE PESO; Glucose; HEMOLIPIDOS; HORMONAS; HORMONE; HORMONES; INSULIN; Insulin - blood; Insulin - metabolism; INSULINA; INSULINE; Labor, Obstetric - blood; Labor, Obstetric - physiology; Linear Models; LIPIDE SANGUIN; LIVEWEIGHT GAIN; NIVEAU D'ALIMENTATION; NIVEL ALIMENTICIO; Nutrition; PARTO; PARTURITION; PLANE OF NUTRITION; PLASMA SANGUIN; PLASMA SANGUINEO; POSTPARTUM INTERVAL; POSTPARTUM NUTRITION; Postpartum Period - blood; Postpartum Period - physiology; Pregnancy; PROGESTERONA; PROGESTERONE; PUERPERIO; PUERPERIUM; Random Allocation; SECRECION; SECRETION; SUCRE DU SANG; Terrestrial animal productions; VACA; VACHE; Vertebrates; Weight; WEIGHT GAIN; Weight Gain - physiology
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163; 0021-8812
• DOI: 10.2527/1998.764927x

Effects of body condition score (BCS) at parturition and postpartum weight gain on luteal activity and concentrations of glucose, insulin, and NEFA in plasma were evaluated during the breeding season in 242 primiparous beef cows over 3 yr (Y) at three locations (L). At approximately 90 d prepartum, cows were blocked by breed, expected calving date, and BCS and randomly assigned to diets so that cows would calve in BCS of 4, 5, or 6. At calving, cows were blocked by breed, calving date, and BCS and randomly allotted to gain .45 (M) or .90 (H) kg/d, from parturition to the start of breeding (postpartum nutrition; PPN). During the 60-d breeding season, weekly blood samples were obtained from cows, and progesterone, insulin, glucose, and NEFA were quantified. Progesterone concentrations greater than 1 ng/mL for more than 1 wk indicated luteal activity. To determine the possible value of blood constituents as predictors of luteal activity, categorical data analyses were performed. Cows with greater BCS at parturition had greater concentrations of glucose during breeding (P .07). Similarly, PPN influenced glucose at the beginning of breeding, but the differences were minimal after d 28 (PPN x day; P .001). Cows with greater BCS at parturition and M-PPN had greater concentrations of insulin during the breeding season (BCS x PPN; P .02). Cows with a BCS of 6 at parturition had the lowest concentrations of NEFA; however, cows on H-PPN had greater concentrations of NEFA (BCS x PPN; P .03). Location, BCS, PPN, and day affected luteal activity (P .002). Location differences in luteal activity were associated with the interval from calving to the start of breeding. In general, a greater percentage of cows with BCS of 5 or 6 at calving had luteal activity by the end of the breeding season. Concentrations of metabolites in blood during breeding were not predictive of luteal activity. We conclude that BCS at parturition and postpartum nutrition influence concentrations of...